Crutch construction



0a. 21, 1958 M R, SPAWN 2,856,943

cRuTcH CONSTRUCTION Filed Maron 29, l1955 2 sheets-snee*b 1 FIG. l.`

v \8 ,5, Fl s. I3.

INVENTOR FIG. MAX R. SPARUN ATTRNEYS Oct. 21, 1958 M. R. SPARLIN CRUTCH CONSTRUCTION I Filed March 29. 1955 Fl G. 4.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Flai I j vINVENTOR 36 MAX R. SPARUN Mamma, M161@ 20. ATTORNEY Figure 1 is a side elevation showing 2,856,943 Patented Oct. 2l, 1958 United States Patent i 2,856,943 CRUTCH CONSTRUCTION Max R. Sparlin, Miami, Okla. Application March 29, 1955., Serial No. 497,678

Claims. (Cl. 13S-49) The invention relates to constructionof crutches to provide for greater comfort and more particularly to a ;ishock absorbing device to be attached to the lower end of a crutch, and to the construction of the arm rests and hand pieces-of crutches to facilitate their use.

Persons who must usecrutches permanently, or over :a long period of time, are subjectto considerable discomfort and annoyance fromY the limitations of the coniventional crutch, and this invention is for their benefit.

The three separate units of the present invention, the base shock absorber, the underarm unit, and the unique :shape and positioning of the handpiece, when used to fgether, provide optimum comfort which has long been nsought. Furthermore, a crutch constructed in accordance '-with the present invention is light in weight, and neat rand trim in appearance while alfording full support and :at the same time permitting more freedom of laction by '.the crutch user. Y p

One object of the present invention is to provide a ,sho'ck absorbing device adapted for use in any standard :type of crutch. v i Y Another object of the invention is to provide a cushionedv rest for the under-arm of the crutch user which 'will'not cause pressure upon vital nerves' and blood ves- :sels of the arm pit, thesoft durometer of Ythe cushion being adapted to cooperate with the base shock absorber :mechanism to absorb the Vmajor portion of the shock caused by use of the crutch, it Vbeing a purpose of the invention, by using the two devices togetherl to offset the contact jar at both endsV of the crutch simultaneously liby providing an underarm cushion of sufficient resiliency to reciprocate with the action of the base shock absorber.

Ano-ther: object of the'invention is to provide a hand piece installed so as lto allow for a more normal position of the hands and arms of the crutch user, and thus for va more stabledistribution of the weight of persons who carry the major portion of their weight on theirfhands.

Tozthis end, a handpiece of more or less triangular shape iis preferred, with thethree sides so-mewhat roundedconvexly. Both ends of each handpiece are angularly notchedV on opposite sides, to provide a lip or flange exten-ding out over the outside .of the upright at either fend on opposite sides, so that the handpiece is set in an obliquely angular position horizontally, and in addition thev anges prevent'thehandpiece from rolling von the f pin or bolt which is installed through the uprights and handle in the customary straight position;

A TheV construction, functionlng and preferred form of the'invention are hereinafter described "in detail .andrits novel' features are particularly set forth in the claims and by referenceto the accompanying'drawings, in which: v

a'crutch embodying lonelforrn of my invention;

` Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in -an axial plane through the lower .portion of the crutch shown in Figure 1;

arrangement 'of a` Figure 3 is a side elevation of a crutch embodying an alternative form of my invention;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View in an axial plane through the lower portion of the crutch shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in a plane transverse to that of Figure 4 of =a portion of the lower portion of the crutch, on the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

crutch;

Figure 12 is a horizontal cross section giving a view of the hand piece of the left crutch;

Figure 13 is a horizontal cross vsection of the bearing shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 14 is a' cross section'of a hand piece on lines 14-14 of Figures 11 and 12.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 8, the shock absorbing mechanism comprises a round tubular housing 10 having a square formation in the upper portion 11 to receive thedivided uprights 12 which have been lbound or clamped together in any suitable manner for insertion in the member 11; a round tubular shaft 13 having'the upper portion interiorly threaded to an appropriate depth to receive a threaded, screw-in, flangedcollar 14, adapted to screw intothe shaft 13, the flange 15 having an outer dimension slightly larger than the dimension of the shaft 13; a silencing washer 16 of suitable` material, preferably rubber, for insertion between the llange 15 ofthe collar 14 and the rim ofthe shaft 13, the outer dimension of the washer16 being the same as that of the flange 15; a hub-like, flanged, free-oating bearing 17, preferably the l of permanent, self-lubricating material, having a lower Iboss 18 adapted to ride freelyinside the inner dimenvend of a compression coil spring 20, the spring having a suitable strength for ,the user of the crutch; a spring cap 21 and guide stem 22, the outer dimension of the spring cap 21 being adapted to t closely inside the inner dimensionof the tubular housing 10 and having a lower boss adapted to iit closely inside .the inner dimension of the end of the coil spring 20 opposite the ybearing 17. The guide stem 22 `is preferably of suilicient length to extend through the bearing 17 at the top Vof the shaft 13, Yand thus keep the coil spring 20 centrally stabilized so that it will not touch the inner walls of the v' housing 10 when the spring cap 21 and the guide` stem 22 and the bearing 17 are in position. The' guide stern 22 passing through the central bore of the bearing 17 is centrally stabilized and the bearing 17 is thus adaptedv to its axial length, even in the event that the ends of the inserteduprights against which it rests should not be plumb.

Press installedtin the lower end of the housing are bearings V23 and 24 of permanent, self-lubricating material, preferably a dry lubricant, to permit easy and noiseless Iactionof the plunger shaft 13 inside the housing 10 when the crutch is in use.

threaded stop kplug 25 may be installed yinside the threaded portion of the shaft 13; should ,the coil spring fail, the plug 25 will cooperate with the guide stem 22 and the spring cap 21 to lock the mechanism. The bottom of theshaft 13 may be furnished with aplugv 26 of any suitable material to prevent cutting through the flexible crutch tip.

' InFignres 4 andS is shown an alternate f orm of ,construction of the shock absorbing device which-,provides for vertical adjustment of the length fof the crutch and of the,` tension of the springso that it may be adapted for users of different heights and Weights. This alternate construction comprises a complete self'contained unit, housed'in a straightroundhousing 27 having no external protrusions but provided with oppositely positioned holes 28 for installing pins or bolts 29,; a divided tension control stem 30 in the housingconyerges to a single threaded portion 31 at the top, the purpose of the divided stem being topermit transverse insertion of the securing pins or bolts 29 through the holes 28'for `variable height adjustment; a threaded, screw-in cap 32 is provided forthe housing 27 through which the control stem 30 protrudes. The collar 33,or the cap 32, is of the same outer dimension as the housing 27;.lock nuts 34 and 35`are provided above and belowithe screwfincap 32 for securing the tension adjustment; a base 36 is secured to the Ylower end` of the divided control stern, being made preferably of composition material. To adjust the height of the crutch, the pins or bolts 29 may be withdrawn; if it is thendesired toloosen or tightenl the tensionfof the coil spring 20, the tension control stem may be turned to depress orvraise thebase 36 and thus .tighten or loosen the tensionotthecoil spring 20, the lock nuts 34 and 35 may be turnedto -secure the adjustment, the housing 27 may b e raisedv or lowered to increase or decrease the heightof thevcrutch asdesired and thepins or bolts .Z9 may be replacedthrough the appropriate holes 28 in the housing 27. i

AsshowninFiguresS. and 6, the uprights of. the crutch maybe braced by a'pin or bolt 37 insertedY through-a cross. piece. '38*between the uprightsof the crutch.

Itisfunderstood that the device may be used with an all-metal crutchas wellas with a crutch having uprights of wood or other suitable materials.. It may also be slidingly installed insidethe `single tubular upright type of crutch. For this type lo l application, the outer crutch tube maybe .drilled for the variable height adjustment and any well known spring typecatch installed. With the spring tension adjustment control through the upper portion and top of the 'tube of the self-contained unit,

it isV adjustable to the heighta'nd weight of the individual user.

In `Figuresl and3 `is shown ithe specially designed arm rest unit, and Figures 9 and l0 show the unit in cross section from end to end andtransversely. The unitis comprised of abaseiormation 40of lanydesirable material, but ,preferably Vof sheet'metal,d havinga lengthwise concave transversely convex top, long, vertically parallel side skirts 41 and muchshorter, verticallyparallel ends 42, a prefabricatedunderarrn form-fitting resilient vcushion 43, preferably'of foam rubber.conforrningfto and removably` covering the topand extendingthe entire .vertical depth of the ,side skirts. and endsofl the baseiormation 40 as shown in Figure 10; a form-ttinghood 4 5, preferably of plastic ,sheet material, having :the same cX- terior' contour andr dimensions as the cushion 13,l and having aps 44, secured by snapsl 48 or othersuitable means forA fastening the hood beneath the base formation 4l) to hold the cushion V43 in place while permitting circulation of air under and through the resilient cushion. There are also two interior anges 46 for receivingthe bolts 49 which attachV thev metal base Yformationto the uprights of a wooden crutch, and a bottomiange 47 to provide resistance when snaptypefasteners 4S ,are used tor securing the hood 4S.y Y ,Y Y Y The vertically parallel'ends and Vsides of the arm rest,

assegna cushion and hood cover enable the cushion to be slipped down over the base without exhausting its resiliency through stretching or distortion. In addition they enable the plastic hood cover to be slipped down over and around the cushion without stretching or distortion. With the hood cover in position all of the parts of the arm rest lie snug and resilient to provide a resilient padding between the underarm of the user and the crutch of much softer character than is possible without this protection, which padding cooperates with the shock absorbing mechanism'at the base of the crutch to oitset and absorb the shock incident to contact between the crutch and the floor or other hard surfaces. The soft resilient padding, being extended to the full vertical depth of the arm rest, cushions the inner arm and chest of the user and eliminates the customary hard bulge of conventional forms of attached padding thus avoiding interference. withfthe, circulation offthe user.

vFigures ll and l2 illustrate a handpiece uniquely 'positioned on the horiz'ontaijplane in relation to the two luprights and; tothe headpiece of the crutch.

The handpiece 5 0 is somewhat triangular in shape in cross section, as -shownvin Figure 14 with the three sides slightlyrounded convexly. Both ends of the handpiece .are-angularly.l notched, to an equal extent but on opposite sides,so,as toprovide ilanges or'lips 53 which, in assembledposition, extend out over the upright to which they are attached-on opposite sides at either end. This not onlyprevents the handpiecesr from rolling on the pin or lb olt 51 but gives the handpiece an angular position with respectto the' plane of the shoulder piece as shown in Eigures l1 and 12j, which is an advantage in handling the crutches. The pins or bolts S1 are installed through the ulrirightsJ of the crutch and the handpiece in the customary straight position. The right and left hand- .piecesvare notched the samebuton opposite sides. When .viewedzfromabovo as shown in -Figure 12, it can be seen that the handpiece is set obliquely in relation to the tutouprightsof the crutch. The oblique angular cuts 52at thel ends do not extend all the way across, but lips 53 are left to extend out over but ilush against opposite sides .ofthe crutch .uprights, as can be seen by the cross section through the upn'ghts in Figure 12, thus giving `thehandpiecean angular twist on the horizontal plane that results in a more comfortable positioning'of the -hand and forearm in using `a full length crutch. It brings theV rear of the handpiece out under the heel of the hand, and the triangular contour provides greater area on the .top side where the weight is borne.

It is tobe understood thatfthe preferredformof my invention has been shown and described herein, and that various details of construction may be varied through a invention.

'I daim;

1. A crutch'lcomprising apair ofgenerally parallel uprightmembersconverging vat their lower ends, a socket member embracing `the lower ends of said upright members, said socket member having a resilient foot .for enwide vrangewithout departingfrom the principle of this l.gaging the ground, a hand .grip member extending betweenl and connectingsaid upright members intermediate theirends,-Ya bolt passinglengthwise through said hand grip member `and transversely through said upright members and having means 4at itsend engaging the outer sides ,of thelatter, the longitudinal axes of said bolt and hand grip `members making, a slight Vangle with each other rwith respect .to the vertical plane of symmetry and a 'headpiece connecting` the upper ends of said vupright members, the longitudinal'axis of each headpiece being in the same vertical-plane as the axis of said bolt, whereby said longitudinal axes of` the headpiece and hand grip member makeda slight angle with each other with reference to said `verticahplane of symmetry.

`2. A crutch comprising divided 'uprights; a hearlpiece removably secured to the top of said uprghts; a triangurights, said handpiece being angularly notched to provide a ange on opposite sides at each end of said handpiece' to extend out over opposite sides of each of said divided uprights; and a shock absorbing device removably attached to the base of said divided uprights.

3. A crutch comprising vvdivided uprights, a shock absoi-hing device adjustablyzsecured at the base of said uprights, a headpiece removably secured to the top of said uprights, said headpiece having vertically parallel sides and ends, a cushion having vertically parallel sides and ends prefabricated to t smoothly over said headpiece; a vcover having vertically parallel sides and ends prefabricated to fit smoothly over said cushion and headpiece, said cover having elongated sides adapted to extend under the base of said headpiece; means for fastening said sides of said cover together under said Vbase of said headpiece to hold said cushion in position, and a handpiece adapted to beset-horizontally between said uprights in obliquely angular position with respect to the plane of said headpiece to cooperate with said headpiece to adjust the position of the crutch with respect to the armpit of the user.

4. In a crutch construction, a shock absorbing device comprising a tubular housing having one end of square formation to receive the base of divided crutch uprights; a tubular shaft interiorly threaded at the top end adapted to move slidably within the lower end of said housing; a threaded screw-in anged collar in the top end of said shaft; a silencing washer between' said collar and the rim Vof said shaft, said Washer projecting circumferentially beyond said rim; a hub-like, anged, free-oating bearing of permanent self-lubricating material having a lower part adapted to ride freely inside the inner dimension of said collar and an upper part adapted to fit tightly inside the inner dimension of one end of a compression coil spring; a spring cap guide and stem, the outer dimension of said cap guide being adapted to fit closely inside said tubular housing, and said cap guide having a lower part adapted to t tightly inside the inner dimension of the end of said coil spring opposite said collar, said stern being of sufficient length to extend from said cap guide through said free-floating bearing at the lower end of said coil spring to keep said spring centrally stabilized; separately spaced self-lubricating bearings press installed on the inner wall of said tubular housing below said screw-in collar Yto reduce thefriction between said housing and said shaft and limiting the relative outward movement of the shaft; and a threaded plug inside the lower end of said threaded portion of said shaft adapted to stop against said cap guide stem for limiting the relative inward movement of said shaft, thereby `positively controlling the movement of said shock absorbing mechanism in both directions.

5. ln a crutch construction having uprights, a shock absorbing device removably attachable to said uprights comprising a tubular housing, a shaft having its upper portion interiorly threaded adapted to move slidably within said housing, a collar adapted to screw into the top end of said shaft, a washer, between said collar and the rim of said shaft, said Washer being larger than said rim circumferentially; a compression coil spring; a spring cap guide having an upper part adapted to it inside the inner dimension of said tubular housing and a lower part adapted to t closely Vinside the inner dimension of one end of said coil spring; a spring bearing having a central bore, a lower part adapted to ride freely inside the inner dimension of said collar, and an upper part adapted to vlit closely inside the inner dimension of the end of said coil spring opposite said spring cap guide; a guide stem on said spring cap guide adapted to extend through the central bore of said spring bearing to stabilize said coil spring; shaft bearings press installed in said housingV through which said shaft is slidable, and a threaded stop plug in the threaded portion of said shaft.

6. An adjustable crutchhvng apair of spacedqupi rights converging at their lower 'ends to embrace la cushioning device, transversesecuring' means passing through -said uprights and cushioning device to secure themxjn adjusted` relationship, andra, tubular housing .for said cushioning device, said housinghaving a series of spaced openings in opposite sidewalls in Vtransverse alinement adapted to receive suchofthe transverse securing means as correspond to a desired adjustment of the length of the crutch, said cushioning device comprising a rotatable member provided with an adjusting screw cooperating with a threaded member controlling'the position of an Vadjustablefspring seat, a second springfseat slidable with respect Yto said tubular housing and mounted on a telescoping member slidablev in said housing and projecting: from the lower end thereof to engage the ground, said rotatable memberY having'at least one elongated opening through' it transversely to receive said transverse securing means in whatever openings said securing means may bepositioned, whereby 'said securingmeans 'also vserve. toretain said rotatable member in adjusted position.

`7. In a'crutch having a pair of `spaced .uprights, a1 triangularly' shaped handpiece, the three sides of said handpiece being slightly rounded convexly, and being notched angularly at either end on/opposite sides toA provide anges, and said anges being adapted to extend out over and ilush against opposite sides of said spaced uprights toV give said handpiece an angular twist relativeto the principalplane of s'aid crutch. -V

8. A'crutch construction comprising a pair of uprights, a tension control and shock absorbing device adapted to be removably attached to said uprights, said tension. control comprising a tubular housing interiorly threaded'. at the top, and provided with openings arranged in spaced'. series on opposite sides of the upper portion of said'. housing; a divided stem in said housing converging to a` single threaded portion at the top and having a basev secured to its lower ends; a threaded screw-in cap adapted to be screwed into the top of said housing having a cen-- tral threaded bore through which said single threadedi portion of said divided stem extends; lock nuts on saidfl threaded portion above and below said screw-in cap to= secure said divided stem in raised or lowered position;

guide, a lower part of said spring cap guide being adapted openings in each of said crutch uprights adapted to be aligned with said openings inl said tubular housing at selected intervals to raise or lower said tubular housing in relation to said uprights, and bolts adapted to'pass through said selected openings in said tubular housing and said openings in said crutch'uprights to secure said tubular housing in selected position in relation to said crutch uprights; a shaft having its upper portion interiorly threaded adapted to move slidably in the lower end of said housing, a collar adapted to screwinto the top Yend of said shaft and a silencingwasher between said collar andthe rim of said shaft; a coil spring; a spring cap to t closely inside the inner dimension ofthe one endV of said coil spring, said spring cap guide having an upper part adapted to t inside the inner dimension of said tubular housing contiguous to said base of said divided stem, said base and spring cap guide being adapted to cooperate to deect said spring when said divided stem is turned; a bearing having a central bore, an upper part adapted to fit closely inside the inner vdimension of the endof said coil spring opposite said spring cap guide f and a lower part adapted to ride freely inside the inner dimension of said collar in the top of said shaft; a guide stem on said spring cap guide adapted to extend inside said coil spring .through the central bore of said bearing, and self-lubricating bearings press-installed on the inner walls of the lower end of said housing through which said slidable shaft is freely movable, whereby the length of said crutch and the tension of said spring are both. adjustable.

9. A pair of crutches each of which comprises divided uprights, ashock absorbing device removably secured toi-the base of said-uprightsg a: head? piecearemovably equally-longsidewalls!-andS-'endivalls; said sidewalls' andendwalls' alsol being: vertically' parallel, and saidY sidewalls andendwalls beingy less thickthansaid top of said cushion-but'` 'of sufficientL'tl1fic`l{-n.'e'ss'l 'to cushion said sidewalls and endwallsltof said'hedpiece; a! pliable cover,

havingf vertically fparal-lell sidewalls 'and endwalls, adapted Y towft smoothly overl-'said cushionlandls'aid headpiece, th'e hemline'=olsaid.Y coverbeingi shaped to curve in and downward'lfromthe 'e'nds'onlbtl sides', to forni' elongated 'apslto cover*thefielongatedfsidevvalls off said cushion, extend underV the ibase?- of fsa'id!l1'eadpie`c:e,V and fit closely between 'saiddivideijlflprightsof saidcru'tch; means for fastening said apstogetherunderneathsaid base of said headpiece; to holdsaid cu'shioniand'saidv coverlin' position; andi' al-handpiece adaptedto be` set horizontally bctween-s'aiduprights inl-an obliquely angularposition relativeltotheplane of said vheadpiece, the direction of sai'dfobliquei angle being opposite forf the right and left crutches, said handpiecevbeing adapted to cooperate with saidrheadpie'ce to controlthe-pos'ition of 'said crutch, with respect to the handand'arm'pit of the user.

l0; in a' crutch having"afpair"of'spaced uprights, a

handpiecefsomewhaf'trangulaly shaped in cross sectional contour, `the thr'eef sides` of said triangle being slightly rouddcbhvexly and the ends yof said handpicce beingv angula'ly cutiso'f thatwhen assembled said handpiece rests'lrizontally level 'between said uprights but inan obliquely angular positinn -relationV to thev general vertical' plane of the crutch, said angle being of the'sarne degree' but in'opposite directions, in right and left crutch- Ii1ates;2al support for said handpiece installed thru said uprights and said handpiece in a straight forward positien; anges on opposite/:sides of opposite yends at said angular end cuts,"said flanges being adapted to extend out` over and `ush against' their respective uprights on opposite-sides'to prevent-said handpiece from rollingl on the supp'origfsaidAV oblique angle of said handpie'ce intersecting the vertical plane'of said crutch at approximately the central point=to prvide that when the crutchA is in the properfhand, it isinthe correct position whichever end of the handpiecefisi'foward.

References'Cited'inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,509,778' Rayinond Sept. 23, 1924 1,580,295 -Glowacki f Apr. 13, 1926 2,174,588 Manzeck Oct. 3, 1939 2,568,654` Neptune Sept. 18, 1951 FOREIG'N PATENTS 425,676'y Grea'tBritain Mar. 19, 1935 

